Pumping the Stomach of McEducation

Last Night's debate reminded me of what a certifiable mess the McCain Republicans are on education.

From the New York Times transcript:

MCCAIN: Well, sure. I'm sure you're aware, Senator Obama, -snip-

Now as far as the No Child Left Behind is concerned, it was a great first beginning in my view. It had its flaws, it had its problems, the first time we had looked at the issue of education in America from a nationwide perspective. And we need to fix a lot of the problems. We need to sit down and reauthorize it.

-snip-

And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children -- precious children who have autism. Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we'll find and we'll spend the money, research, to find the cause of autism. And we'll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.

REAUTHORIZE NCLB!

OMG! McCain is off his nut on this one. NCLB is a failure by every definition of the word.

And this idea that a woman who happens to have delivered a downs child is somehow magically qualified to speak to the issues is insane as believing that Palin is a Russian diplomat by virtue of proximity to a geographic border.

The Republicans are frankly embarrassments to intelligent people.

But the McCain statement that was absolutely over the top was this one:

MCCAIN: We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which -- or have the certification that some are required in some states.

How does serving in the military qualify someone to walk into a classroom and teach?

Troops To Teachers currently trains Troops to become teachers but doesn't waive the state certification requirements.

How safe would Americans feel if GI Joe took over a classroom with a post-traumatic stress condition and no teacher training? It seems to me that McCain's recommendation here is foolhardy and reckless at face value.

And, btw, Obama's answers were only slightly better. The nation needs bold education reform and revamping and both candidates are redecorating the bulletin boards.

Sad.